THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE

Hold 2 Suspects In 1998 Oconto Homicide

Two suspects in the Feb. 22, 1998 homicide of Chad J. McLean, who was 19 years old at the time, have had charges filed against them. McLeans body was found Mar. 22, 1998 in the Pensaukee Rive near a bridge by the Sandalwood Golf Course in Abrams.

Suspects include Charles J. Mlados, 54, Oconto Falls, who at one time resided in the Town of Peshtigo, and Peter J. Hanson, 52, Abrams, currently lodged in the Oconto County Jail.

Mlados is charged with two felony counts of perjury before a judge on Nov. 2 and had an initial appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court before Judge Michael Judge. The court set a cash bond of $25,000. His next court appearance is at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 27.

Charges of first degree intentional homicide have been filed against Hanson by a special prosecutor from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. He is scheduled to have an initial appearance at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Mar. 28, before Judge Michael Judge.

According to the complaint McLean was last seen about 10 a.m., Feb. 22, 1998 at his duplex apartment in Green Bay by other residents. He had gone to Abrams with a friend, Cory Byng who visited relatives at their trailer home there. Later in the evening they were joined by Hanson who lived in Abrams and Mlados who then resided in Green Bay.

Consumed was beer over several hours. About 8:30 p.m. according to the complaint, Byng and McLean were going to drive back to Green Bay. However, Byngs vehicle became stuck and a fight resulted, according to the complaint. Byng told investigators he overheard that McLean would go back to Green Bay with either Hanson or Mlados.

Investigators interviewed both Hanson and Mlados several times. According to the complaint, both reported because of the fog that evening they had dropped off McLean at a convenience store in Abrams.

Several John Doe hearings were held and information obtained from witness who knew McLean as well as Hanson and Mlados, according to the complaint. Continued investigation led to charges against the two men.

Mlados is only charged with two felony counts of perjury before a judge. According to the complaint, at a hearing on Nov. 2, 2012, Mlados gave inaccurate information concerning incidents related to the McLean case.

On Mar. 19 of this year, the John Doe investigation was closed and the judge signed an order finding probable cause that Mlados committed multiple crimes of perjury at the John Doe hearing of Nov. 2, 2012 and authorized the issuance of a criminal complaint.